Hot in Hiroshima

WNTAug 19, 2012

Katie Stengel and Mandy Laddish stretch out after practice while sporting combo patriotic/iced down headbands

It has been quite hot and humid in Hiroshima as the Americans prepare for their opening game of the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The heat was of course not unexpected and the USA has been preparing for the conditions for a while now, including a July training camp in Florida (which = instant sweat) and is taking every precaution here in Japan.

Temperatures are forecast to be anywhere from 80-95 degrees tomorrow for USA vs. Ghana which will kick-off at 4 p.m. local time, just about when things are hopefully starting to cool down.

You can watch the match live on ESPNU or ESPN3 with coverage starting at 2:50 a.m. ET. Or, set your DVRs. Fans can also follow on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and via Twitter at ussoccer_ynt.

The U.S. players are super excited to get this tournament underway and represent their country on the world's stage. Here are the 21 players that will participate in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. You can read their complete bios on ussoccer.com.